also: ふぃぎあ
noun
A loanword-style use for a visible figure, form, or shape. In everyday Japanese, 形 or 姿 is often more natural; フィギュア in this sense is more likely in art, design, or translated contexts.
美術やデザインの文脈では、フィギュアが人や物の形を指すことがある。
In art or design contexts, フィギュア can refer to the shape of a person or object.
noun
Common for collectible or display figures, especially character goods from anime, games, films, and similar media.
机の上にアニメキャラのフィギュアを飾っている。
I have an anime character figurine displayed on my desk.
限定版のフィギュアを予約した。
I pre-ordered the limited-edition figure.
noun
Abbreviation of フィギュアスケート. Common in conversation, headlines, and sports coverage when the skating context is clear.
See also: フィギュアスケート
冬になると、母はフィギュアの大会をよく見る。
In winter, my mother often watches figure skating competitions.
妹は小学生のころからフィギュアを習っている。
My younger sister has been learning figure skating since elementary school.
Means doll or puppet; broader and more traditional than フィギュア, which often suggests a collectible model figure.
Means model or scale model, often of vehicles, buildings, machines, and similar objects; フィギュア more often suggests a character or person-shaped collectible.
The ordinary Japanese word for shape or form; usually more natural than フィギュア for everyday descriptions of shape.
Katakana word corresponding to senses of “figure”; no language of origin is specified, so the exact borrowing history is not stated here.